Import PS prices in China and Southeast Asia have been mostly on a stable to firm track since they hit a more than one-year low in around early December. Despite healthy demand and low inventories, sellers either kept their offers stable or applied modest hikes in the midst of slowly rising spot styrene prices...

Turkish PE players reported to have felt a visible impact of the restriction on the use of plastic bags on PE trade although it has been only a few weeks since the compulsory fee of TRY0.25 was implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning...

In Europe, LDPE and LLDPE prices continued to hover at around their multi-year lows as the downward trend of PE was extended into 2019 with January prices witnessing decreases of €20 -€40/ton. Lingering holiday lull and overall ample supplies kept trading thin...

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PS producers’ January offers defy lower styrene in Europe

European PS suppliers approached their local markets with rollovers to slight increases regardless of the unexpected fall in the January styrene settlement. Adopting a similar pricing policy, one of the suppliers raised its export PS offers to the nearby Turkish market.

Two major producers raised PS prices following sharp decreases in 2-3 months

According to statements on the companies’ websites, Ineos and Trinseo revealed their January PS offers with respective increases of €10/ton ($11/ton with the recent parity) and €15/ton ($17/ton) effective as of January 1st.

The producers applied increases for the first time following double to three-digit decreases in the past 2-3 months.

European PS hit nearly 4 year-low in December

After following a mostly downward trend in the past three months, the weekly average of spot PS prices both in Italy and Northwest Europe reached their lowest levels not seen since February 2015, according to data from ChemOrbis Price Index.

Limited supplies might help sellers curb decreases

According to players, sellers aim to put an end to the downward trend following 3 months of steep declines with support from limited availability and expectations for better demand.

Some PS suppliers across Europe closed their order books earlier than usual in December, which resulted in a disruption for converters who were aiming to restock ahead of the awaited January hikes.

This along with delivery disruptions within the region left most buyers with low stock levels. A player affirmed that the most recent low ends started to fade due to their limited allocations.

A producer source confirmed, “Our order entry for January is good as buyers were not able to stock up in December due to transportation issues.”

Will sellers’ initial hikes gain traction in January?

It remains to be seen whether some suppliers’ initial hike attempts will be workable or not, according to some players. Some distributors reported being confident to pay rollovers at the end of negotiations, pointing to their customers’ restricted needs.

Rollovers might be the most probable outcome in January amid the opposite pressures from limited supplies and slack demand, a food packager argued.

How will the ban on single-use plastics affect disposable businesses?

Players are also evaluating the possible impacts of the imminent ban of single-use plastics as it points to a reduction in consumption in the longer-run.

Under a provisional agreement of the EU, cutlery, plates, straws and cotton bud sticks made of plastics will be banned starting from 2021. Products made from oxo-degradable plastic, as well as food and beverage containers, and cups of beverages made of EPS will also be banned.